Term 1

An information evening for NEW parents and teachers of children attending the Tikipunga Unit will be held on Thursday, 3rd March, 5.30 pm, in the GKP Room at Tikipunga Primary School. This is an opportunity for you to find out more about the Gifted Kids Programme.
The information evening for NEW parents and teachers of children attending the Northern Wairoa Centre will be held on Tuesday, 1st March, at 5.30pm.

Parents of children who have been at GKP before are also welcome to attend.

Meeting agenda

Below is what was discussed at our meetings held at Selwyn Park School and Tikipunga Primary School -

• What is GKP and what do we undertake during a day at GKP. We discussed the areas of our curriculum and how they help your child - affective, mental edge, talent time and passion time, concept - see pages on this wikispace
• What is the difference between a unit and a centre - Tikipunga is a unit (funded and run by the Gifted Kids Programme Trust) and Selwyn Park is a centre (funded and run by the Northern Wairoa Principal's Association with support from GKP)
• How you can help - funds, resources, etc. Do you know anyone or any place which would help the students' learning? - foreign language tutors, experts in their field, places to visit, etc.
• Giftnet PD for contributing schools
• How do we help your child back in their own school - close relationships with their teachers, how they can use the tools we use at GKP back in their classrooms
• Communication – Newsletters, Wikispaces
• Questions that came up -
  What happens if the students are not able to attend on their day due to sports events, etc.? We would prefer it that the students do attend on their day as they only have 38 sessions a year, however in the unforeseen circumstances that occur at times, they are able to negotiate with me to attend on a different day.
  What if I don't agree with the talent time/passion time "project" my child has chosen? I will keep in contact with parents and teachers to help decide on the best talent/passion time work for your child. Sometimes children may chose one that you think is not for them. It is important you discuss this with them and with me. Some children have so many talents and passions they find it hard to chose one to work on. I will work with them to help them develop in the best possible way. Please keep in email, txt or phone contact with me. Some passions develop out of talents.
  Do we receive reports for our children? At the end of the year the children will receive a Learning Journal which documents their journey through GKP.
  Do the children have to follow the same curriculum as schools do and achieve National Standards? GKP has its own curriculum that we follow for our students that involves rich contexts. Our mission is "To provide for and advance the education and social development of gifted children by the provision of suitable facilities and programmes (Trust Deed, 2000) http://www.giftedkids.co.nz/about-us The programme the students receive at GKP supports the NZ Curriculum Document and enhances the learning the students the children undertake in their own schools. National Standards are assessed at the home school of the students.